Improvement in upholstering-tufts



\ R. H. BRYANT.

U UPHOLSTERING TUFTS.

l" N-0 '191,550 Patented .Tune 5,1877.

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

ROBERT H.l BRYANT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BYRON L. SAWYER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN UPHOLSTERING-TUFTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 191,650, dated June 5, 1877; application filed December 16, 1876.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT HENRY BRY- ANT, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in'Upholstering-Tufts, which is fully set forth in the following speciiicaltion, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-f Figure 1 represents a plan view of amattress with my improved tufts applied thereto; and Figs. 2 and 3, plan views of the tuft, varying from each other slightly in construction.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap leather tuft, for use as a substitute for the ordinary thread tuft, and which may be readily removed from the loop by which it is held, and replaced therein at pleasure, without injury to the tuft. A

The invention consists of a disk of leather or any other suitable material, slitted on opposite sides from the circumference toward its center, within which slits the loop-cord is placed when the tuft is applied for upholster ing purposes.

In the drawings, A represents a mattress of ordinary construction, and B the usual tufting or tie thread. Instead of the ordinary thread tuft., I make my tufts from disks C, of leather or any other suitable material. These disks are cut out by suitable dies, in any desirable form, though I prefer a circular form, as shown in the drawings. On opposite sides of the disks a slit, c, is cut in toward the center ot' the disk. By -turning up one corner of the tuft at one of these slits, and pulling up the tufting-thread, the tuft or disk C may be turned in under the loop, which is received in the slits c, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

If desired, the slits c may be of the form shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and at their inner endsv may be cut slightly enlarged, as shown in the same igure, so that the tuftingthread will be received in circular holes c at the inner ends of the slits.

By pulling up the tufting-thread and turning up one corner of the tuft, it may be readily removed from the loop by turning it out in the proper direction.

When the slits are made as shown in Fig. 3 the tuft will fit a little neater, as the tufting=thread, being received in the holes -c, will not cause the tuft to crimp or pucker.

This tuft is much more durable than the ordinary thread tuft, which is easily picked to pieces and destroyed, while mine cannot be pulled out 5 hence the tnftingthread need not be drawn so tightly. Moreover, it is exceedingly cheap, even in its first cost, and, as it can be used over and over again, is much less expensive than tufts of ordinary construction. It also makes a very neat finish, and is cleanly, as it does not catch the dust like the thread tuft.

I have shown and described my improved tuft applied to a mattress; but it is evident that it is equally applicable to all ordinary upholstering purposes, where an ornamental finish is not desired, and even in the latter case it may be constructed of such material and iinish as to answer for many purposes.

I have described the tufts as made ofleather but they may also be made of rubber, paper, heavy cloth, or any other suitable flexible material which may be manipulated as described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A tuft for upholstering purposes, consisting of a disk of leather or other flexible material, having slits c cut in its opposite sides, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An upholstering-tuft consisting of a disk of leather, C, with slits c cut in its opposite sides, and enlargements c at the inner ends thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ROBERT H. BRYANT.

Witnesses:

H. H. TALcoTT, L. A. BUNTING. 

